Reflector for lighting units.



E.F.GUTH.

REFLECTOR FOR LIGHTING UNITS.

APPLICATI N INVENTOR A TTOR/VEY Patented Feb. 19,1918.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

EDWIN F. GUTH, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI, ASSIGNOR TO LUMINOUS UNIT 00., OFST. LOUIS, MISSOURI, A CORPORATION OF MISSOURI.

REFLECTOR FOR LIGHTING UNITS.

Application filed May 18, 1916.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EDWIN F. Gu'rH, a citizen of the United States,residing in the city of St. Louis and State of Missouri, have invented acertain new and useful Improvement in Reflectors for Lighting Units, ofwhich the following is a specification.

My invention relates to that class of lighting units which is describedin my Patent, Number 1,07 6,418, issued October 21st, 1913.

It is customary in using lights ofthis character, where the ceiling isvery high, to suspend the'same by means of chains or other suspensionmeans'some distance down from the ceilin This causes the reflector tothrow a sha ow upon the ceiling, which produces a disagreeable eflectupon the observer.

My invention has for its object to provide a construction which willentirely obviate this, and will provide means for diffusing the lightupon the ceiling and thus eifectively doing away with the marked shadowlines thereon.

I am aware that glass reflectors have been used for this purpose, butthey are extremely ineflicient owing to the fact that such a largeamount of the light flux either passes through or is absorbed by theglass, whereas in my invention, I only permit suflicient amount to passthrough to dissipate the shadow effect without seriously impairing theefficiency, as the greater part of my reflector is formed of opaquematerial.

My means of accomplishing the foregoing objects may be more readilyunderstood by having reference to the accompanying drawings, which arehereunto annexed and are a part of this specification, in which:

Figure l is a side elevation of a lighting unit, the reflector thereofbeing partially shown in section to show my improvement which is appliedthereto Fig. 2 is a bottom view of the reflector.

Similar reference numerals refer to similar parts throughout the entiredescription.

As shown in the drawings, 1 is the reflector which is suspended by meansof chains 2, from a canop 3, which is secured to the ceiling indicate bythe line 4. The light bulb 5, is supported in the center of thereflector 1, and extended downwardly into a bowl 6, which is preferablyformed of translucent glass.

This bowl is supported by three suspend- Specification of LettersPatent.

Patented Feb. 19,1918.

Serial No. 98,292.

ing members 7. The bottom 8, of the reflector 1, is formed of suitablematerial to reflect the light rays downwardly as indicated by the lineswhen they are thrown back upon it from the interior of the bowl 6.

Inthe bottom 8, of the reflector 1, I form a plurality of openings 9,which may be of any number to secure the desired result. Above theseopenings I place a piece of whlte opal glass 10, as clearly shown in thesectional view of the reflector. Although I have described white opalglass for this purpose, it will be obvious to persons skilled in the artthat any material which will present a reflecting surface, which willpermit the passage therethrough of a portion of the light which isthrown upon it, will answer the purpose.

By spacing these openings 9, around in various parts of the reflector,it .has the eflfect of diffusing the light rays upon the celling, asclearly indicated by the lines in Fig". 1, thus effectively doing awaywith the marked shadow lines thereon.

Although I have shown a specific form of reflector, it is apparent thatmy invention is not limited to any particular form nor to any specificconstruction, as any reflector which is formed of material, the surfaceof which will reflect the light rays, but which is sufficientlytransparent to permit a portion of the light rays to pass through so asto dissipate the marked shadow lines in the ceiling, will fall withinthe spirit of my invention.

I do not wish to be understood as limiting myself to the constructionshown in the drawings, which are furnished merely for illustrativepurposes, nor to my description except as such limitations shall appearin the hereinafter contained claims.

Having described my invention what I regard as new and desire to secureby Letters Patent is:

1. A reflector for lighting units formed of opaque material, thereflecting surface being substantially flat and finished in depolishedwhite enamel, there being a plurality of openings in said reflectingsurface, said openings being covered with white opal glass sufficientlydense to reflect a portion of the light rays, but which is sufficientlytranslucent to permit a portion of said rays to pass through so as todissipate the shadow lines in the ceiling. the area of said openingsbeing of such size as will not materially decrease the eficiency of thereflector.

2. A reflector for lighting units-formed of opaque material, thereflecting surface being substantially flat and finished in depolisheclwhite enamel, there being a plurality of openings in said reflectingsurface, said openings being covered with white opal glass suflicientlydense to reflect a portion of the light rays, but which is sufficiently10 In testimony whereof I have signed the 15 foregoing specification.

EDWIN F. GUTH.

